Input some intro wording here - see workplace example: “We help our clients envision their future and assess their impact by providing guidance at every step. We approach projects with the mindset of an artist and a technician. Our design process balances the traditional skills of careful listening and craft with technology to model future outcomes and drive responsible decision-making.”
We may want to include in the wording here:
New Construction / Renovation / Historic Rehabilitation / Additions / Interior Design
Building
Assessments
As part of our work for building renovations and additions, we prepare existing conditions 3-D model of existing buildings and assess these buildings in terms of architectural quality and space use, energy usage, structural systems, mechanical systems, and their efficacy. We create a life safety and building code review of existing buildings that enables us to provide real recommendations on improvements.
Feasibility Studies
& Master Planning
Our Architectural Feasibility Studies and Master Plans typically assess the practicality and potential success of a proposed project development. They usually include a site analysis, building assessments if the project involves existing buildings, stakeholder consultation and programming, sustainability consultation, schematic design, regulatory review, a financial assessment of project costs, collaboration with the fundraising team, and final recommendations for the project.
Architecture Services
Schematic Design
During the first phase—schematic design—we consult with our client to determine project goals and requirements. Often this determines the program for the project.
The program defines the required functions of the project. It typically includes the estimated square footage of each usage type and any other elements that achieve the project goals.
During schematic design, we develop study drawings and models that illustrate the concepts of the design and include spatial relationships, scale, and form for the owner to review. Schematic design is also the research phase of the project when zoning requirements or jurisdictional restrictions are discovered and addressed. Potential construction costs are estimated based on overall project area.
We meet with our clients to solicit feedback and make updates to the design. The schematic design phase is approved by the client before moving forward to the design development phase.
Deliverables: Schematic design often produces a site plan, floor plan(s), sections, an elevation, and other illustrative materials; computer images, renderings, or models. Typically, the drawings include overall dimensions, and a construction cost is estimated.
PLACE SCHEMATIC DESIGN EXAMPLE IMAGE HERE
Design Development
Design development services use the initial design documents from the schematic phase and take them one step further. This phase explores mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and architectural details.
Typically referred to as DD, this phase results in drawings that often specify design elements such as material types and location of windows and doors. The level of detail provided in the DD phase is determined by the owner’s request and the project requirements. The DD phase often ends with a formal presentation to and approval by the client.
Deliverables: Design development often produces floor plans, sections, and elevations with full dimensions. These drawings typically include door and window details and outline material specifications.
PLACE DD IMAGE EXAMPLE HERE
Construction Document
The next phase is construction documents (CDs). Once we are satisfied with the documents produced during DD, we produce drawings with greater detail for construction. These drawings typically include specifications for construction details and materials. The structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are fully coordinated. The building envelope is fully detailed. The drawings demonstrate code compliance and are ready to be submitted with a building permit application.
Deliverables: The construction document phase produces a set of drawings that include all pertinent information required for the contractor to price and build the project.
PLACE CD IMAGE EXAMPLE HERE
Builder Selection
For smaller projects, we often suggest this negotiation phase begin after schematic design, to get a builder on board and estimate the project early in the design process. This tends to be a more collaborative approach and is a good way to get into their queue for work. Our firm provides introductions and solicits multiple proposals on our clients' behalf.
For larger projects, we help with the traditional bid approach, as is often required for various funding sources. The first step of this phase is the preparation of the bid documents to go out to potential contractors for pricing. The bid document set often includes an advertisement for bids, instructions to bidders, the bid form, bid documents, the owner-contractor agreement, labor and material payment bond, and any other sections necessary for successful price bids. For some projects that have unique aspects or complex requirements, the architect and owner elect to have a pre-bid meeting for potential contractors.
After bid sets are distributed, the client and architect wait for bids to be submitted. The client, with the help of the architect, evaluates the bids and selects a winning bid. Any negotiation with the bidder for price or project scope, if necessary, should be done before the contract for construction is signed.
The final step is to award the contract to the selected bidder with a formal letter of intent to allow construction to begin.
Deliverables: The final deliverable is a construction contract. Once this document is signed, project construction can begin.
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Construction
Our work in this phase is to support the contractor as needed to build the project as specified in the construction documents. Questions may arise on site that require us to develop architectural sketches: drawings issued after construction documents have been released that offer additional clarification to finish the project properly. We also review material submittals, shop drawings, payment applications, and any change orders for and with our clients.
Deliverables: A successfully built and contracted project.
IMAGE OF A PROJECT DURING CONSTRUCTION
Get in Touch.
We would love to meet with you and talk about your projects at any stage of development, please reach out to us at info@kcs-architects.com, or click the link below.
For information about employment opportunities, please contact us at careers@kcs-architects.com